NCJ Number
210678
Date Published
September 2005
Length
35 pages
Annotation
This report underscores the importance of law enforcement-private security partnerships in preventing terrorist attacks.
Abstract
The private sector owns and protects approximately 85 percent of the country's infrastructure while law enforcement agencies have access to intelligence information regarding threats to infrastructure. It makes sense that to best protect our Nation's infrastructure from terrorist assaults, solid working partnerships between law enforcement and private security agencies are crucial. The benefits of these partnerships are extolled and the obstacles preventing effective law enforcement-private security partnerships are discussed. Primary barriers include information sharing, mistrust, and misinformation. It is suggested that partnerships be formalized with memorandums of understanding and formal coordination agreements specifying the mechanisms through which information will be shared. The report describes local and regional programs and initiatives bringing together law enforcement and private security agencies, such as the Area Police/Private Security Liaison program in New York City. Other State and local programs, as well as Federal programs, are also explored. Endnotes, references